Low inflation seen until year-end

Despite the continued spike in consumer prices for the second straight month in September, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects average inflation to fall below two percent in 2025 but warned that the United States’ (US) protectionist policies could hurt the local economy.

- (Derco Rosal).

“Inflation is projected to average below the low end of the target range in 2025, primarily due to the easing of rice prices in previous months,” the BSP said in a statement released on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Inflation accelerated to 1.7 percent last month from 1.5 percent in August. This makes September’s inflation the highest in six months, or since March’s 1.8-percent rate.

Higher inflation during the month was driven by transport and food costs, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). September inflation remained within the central bank’s forecast range of 1.5 to 2.3 percent.